Just for the "Well" of it

The daily grind and your health

The daily grind… How many of you out there truly love your jobs? I don’t have any statistics, but my guess would probably be about 50 percent or so. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all woke up every Monday morning excited to go to work and actually looked forward to it? Full-time workers spend at least 2,080 hours on the job each year, some likely more. That’s probably more time than a lot of us spend sleeping! If we are spending that much of our lives doing something, I believe it should be something we enjoy.

Ask yourself these questions… Is my job rewarding to me? Do I feel a sense of satisfaction when I know I’ve done a good job? Do I look forward to my next project or assignment, or do I dread it? Does my job help better the community? Am I proud of my occupation and the things I do that are related to my work?

Occupational wellness is an important part of our overall well-being. The key is believing in what you do, being happy while you do it, and being proud of your accomplishments. If you are unhappy in your work, other areas of your life will be affected to a great extent. Your stress levels will be high, and probably your blood pressure too. Your emotional wellness will be out of whack. Your social life will be affected by your attitudes about your work.

Intellectual wellness may be either challenged or lie dormant. Financial wellness also comes into the picture. So as you can see, occupational wellness is very important. My point is, when you are satisfied with your choice of occupation and happy in your daily work, other areas of your life get better, easier, and more enjoyable. Your attitude is adjusted and you become a positive role model for others, not only within your company, but also in the community. This includes your children too because they learn many things from you, the good as well as the not so good.

To start on the path toward occupational wellness look at yourself first. Make a list of things and activities that you enjoy. Is there anything on that list that you could get paid for? Explore a variety of career options and create a vision for your future. Choose a career that suits your personality, interests and talents.

Be open to change and learning new skills for your advancement. Do some research and network with people in jobs that you might like to try. By striving for advancement and setting goals for ourselves, we become more motivated, both on the job and in our personal lives.

Being occupationally well means seeking opportunities to grow professionally and be fulfilled in your job, no matter what it might be. It includes the work you do, your roles and responsibilities in life, and making good use of your gifts and talents in order to obtain happiness and enrichment in your life. Your occupational development is related to your attitudes about your work.

As you continue on the path toward occupational wellness, you’ll convey your values through your involvement in activities that are gratifying to you, as well as to your employer or company, and for the good of the community. Your choice of profession, job satisfaction, career ambitions, and personal performance are all important components of occupational wellness.

Your commitment to your occupation should compliment your total lifestyle in ways that are rewarding and satisfying to you. The bottom line is…Do What You Love and Love What You Do!

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You can reach Cathy Kaltz, Certified Worksite Wellness Specialist, at (906) 286-0985 for information on individual or worksite wellness programs, wellness seminars and presentations for your group, or information on chronic disease self-management programs that are available in our area.